Sokcho skate restaurant with kiosk refills: Sokcho Jungang Sanghoe

They say you have to try steamed skate when you visit Sokcho these days! As a self-proclaimed food blogger, I couldn't just walk past, so I went to Sokcho Jungang Sanghoe, known as the steamed skate spot in Sokcho Jungang Market. They start prepping and cooking as soon as you order, and I'd heard the portions are famously generous, which made me even more excited. Here's my review after eating skate that's good for you and tastes good too — let's start!

Sokcho Jungang Sanghoe: location, hours, and parking

Sokcho Jungang Sanghoe is on the 1st floor of the Centum Park Building in Sokcho Jungang Market, closed every Tuesday. You can park in the underground lot in the building, with 2 hours free when you dine.

📍 Location / ⏰️ Hours / * Closed every Tuesday / 🅿️ Parking info: underground parking in the building (2 hours free with a meal) / 🗒 Menu

Finding it: 1st floor, Centum Park Building, Sokcho Jungang Market

Sokcho Jungang Sanghoe sits on the 1st floor of the Centum Park Building in Sokcho Jungang Market — it feels like a new landmark for the market. Since Lotte Cinema is in the same building, it was easy to find.

The tiled-roof accent gives it a classic, elegant interior. Just looking at it, it feels clean and pleasant.

It was featured on a popular TV show just a few months ago — a fresh hit spot!

It looked like you could also eat outside, and it seems like when the inside is full, they seat you out there.

Weekday open run: how were the wait and seating?

Even though I did a weekday open run at Sokcho Jungang Sanghoe, a lot of people were already eating. Still, the restaurant is spacious with plenty of seats, so waiting probably won't be much of a worry.

One side is set up for group seating, so it looks great for big families too! After being overwhelmed by the crowds at Sokcho Jungang Market, it was nice to be able to eat quietly and comfortably here. Time to sit back and eat calmly~_~!!

There are also baby chairs, so families with kids can visit without worry 👶

Cooking time is about 15–20 minutes, and note that it can vary depending on the menu item!

The restroom is inside the building. There's no tissue provided, so be sure to bring your own!

Pro Steamed Skate (small), ₩45,000 — how does it taste?

The owner's order 🐟 - Pro Steamed Skate (small) ₩45,000 - 2 bowls of rice ₩2,000 - Corn noodles ₩3,000

After waiting about 15 minutes, the Pro Steamed Skate arrived. The portion was generous, and the plump skate covered in bright red sauce looked absolutely delicious.

Just picking it up gently with chopsticks made it fall apart smoothly along the grain of the fish. Ahh...

Tear the flesh into bite-sized pieces, soak it in the sauce, and put it on rice — total rice thief 🤤 The sauce, made fresh and aged daily, was thick enough to remind me of tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) sauce, with a deep spicy kick and rich umami. Even the regular spice level is fairly spicy, so unless you're really good with spicy food, I'd recommend starting with the regular option!

They also sell the sauce separately — if it hadn't been the first day of my trip, I would've wanted to stock up on it...

Since they prep and cook right when you order, the flesh was soft and moist while still having a chewy bite. It's clean-tasting with no fishy smell, so even someone trying skate for the first time could enjoy it without much worry.

It's so soft that even the meat near the bone just slides off with a light scrape of a spoon like this. Fish can be delicious but a hassle to debone — this was the easiest one I've ever eaten.

The radish and potatoes were also soaked through with sauce — these alone could finish off a bowl of rice quickly.

Kiosk side-dish refills and how to eat it wrapped in seaweed

The side dishes at Sokcho Jungang Sanghoe were satisfying too! Overall they were mildly seasoned, which paired perfectly with the spicy skate. In particular, the bean sprout side dish is intentionally left unseasoned, and its crunchy texture went really well with the spicy sauce. Later, when mixing with the corn noodles, adding extra bean sprouts is a great move 👍

Side dishes can be refilled via a kiosk like this.

I tried method 2 — wrapping it in raw seaweed. Piling steamed skate and bean sprouts generously onto the seaweed and wrapping it up delivered nuttiness, crunch, and chewiness all at once. I highly recommend eating it this way.

The seaweed soup is also great for cleansing your palate in between bites.

Finish it off with corn noodles, ₩3,000

For the final course, corn noodles aren't optional — they're a must! Toss the leftover sauce with the corn noodles and mix it up.

...and you get spicy mixed noodles bursting with umami like this. It feels like the proper way to finish a meal, so definitely add this on! ₩3,000 worth of happiness.

By the way, you can get the corn noodles through a review event.

Final thoughts

A meal that tasted great and felt nutritious too — even more satisfying ❤️ The staff were kind, and the seating was spread out generously, making it look great for family visits. Parking is usually tough around the busy Sokcho Jungang Market, but being able to use the Centum Park Building's underground lot made it convenient to visit by car. From the generous portions to the spicy sauce to the tender skate meat, Sokcho Jungang Sanghoe was satisfying all around. If you're looking for something different in Korean food or a great steamed skate spot during your Sokcho trip, I'd definitely recommend giving it a visit!